A WEBQUEST For “The Things They Carried”

By: Wes Bradley wbradley@hstnp.newvisionsk12.org

H.s. for teaching and the professions

INtroduction

In Tim O’Brien’s “The Things They Carried” we have been introduced to the Vietnam War exposing the psychological and physical effects upon the soldiers battling within. Indeed, the war impacted millions of people around the world, some more directly than others. As O’Brien mentions in the opening of “The Things They Carried” he was opposed to the war, and even attempted to escape his call to duty. We’ve discussed why O’Brien may have felt this way, however, we haven’t looked closely at the many issues involved within the Vietnam War, addressing why it was so controversial back home in the U.S.. In this Webquest you will research using the TIPS GHPPA methodology to evaluate our countries decision to go to war in Vietnam. However, half of you will research our present war in Iraq enabling the class to do a comparative analysis of the two wars.

TASK

Goals and Objectives:

· In this Webquest your group will research using the TIPS GHPPA methodology, outlined below, to evaluate the United States’ policy to enter into the either the Vietnam or Iraqi Wars as you are assigned.

· Your group will complete a Webquest of at least 6 slides in which you outline your evaluation.

· Your group will research independently to gather evidence for your evaluation, using internet links within this Webquest, while also using other websites.

· Ultimately, your group will offer a comparative analysis of the Vietnam and Iraqi Wars following the Whole Class Power Point Presentations, making a historical analysis of the two wars.

5 GHPPA STEPS

Click to Follow the Links before Going on to the Process

Remember, you will follow these steps before making an evaluation.

1. Identify the Problem worksheet

2. Gather the EVidence worksheet

3. Determine the Causes worksheet

4. Evaluate the Policy worksheet

5. Comparative ANalysis worksheet

PROCESS,PROCESS,PROCESS

· You will be placed into groups of at least two and at maximum three.

· There will be 10 groups of which half of these will address the Vietnam War and the other half, our War in Iraq.

· After gathering evidence from the process and resources below your group will create a Power Point Presentation in which you will expose your findings and your evaluation of the United States’ role in the war you were assigned.

· Each group will address the following in their Power Point presentations:

1. Problems with a “War” as we know it.

2. Suspected causes of the Vietnam War and the Iraq War.

3. Evaluate the United States’ position in the War.

4. Develop solutions to the problems of the War.

Answer the following questions using the internet resources on the next page.

1. Define the problem involved with a war. In particular, what issues does a war bring about for a country, society, or person involved? Think on the micro and macro levels of the situation here. Also, what are the potential benefits of a war? Are there any?

2. Identify the major problems that incited the war you are assigned.

3. What are some of the suspected causes of the war you were assigned? Who was involved? Is there one country attacking another? For what reason?

4. Evaluate the United States’ decision to enter into a war with the given country? Do you feel there was valid reason to “go to war?” Why or why not? Your answer here should rely on the information that you have found. Therefore, you should cite from the information that you’ve researched.

5. Imagine that you are the president of our country and you are faced with the decision of war in Vietnam or Iraq. What solutions would you offer to fight off the imminent war? These solutions should be based upon what you’ve found. This should be a solution based upon your educated knowledge. Remember, assess the positives and negatives of your solution. Do you feel it was the only option? Why or why not?

6. Upon reflecting on the previous four questions, offer up what you see as the “best solution” to the problem of this war.

RESOURCES

VIETNAM RESOURCES:

Search Engines

1. Google

2. Yahoo

3. Encyclopedia

Defining War Problems and Just War Theory:

1. Problems of War

2. Principles of A Just War

3. Just War Theory

Leading up to the War:

1. How the U.S Got Involved

2. Essay “Leading Up to War”

3. Events Leading to War

4. Vietnam: Before the War

Causes of the War:

1. Causes and Early Years

2. Causes of Vietnam War

Evaluating the Decision:

“Should U.S. be Involved?”

1. http://www.1stcavmedic.com/sara_kiess.html

2. http://www.vietnam-war.info/protests/

3. http://www.vietnam-war.info/facts/

4. http://ohoh.essortment.com/vietnamwarprot_rlcz.htm

5. http://www.english.uiuc.edu/maps/vietnam/interpretations.htm

Developing Solutions Worksheet

WAR in Iraq Resources

Search Engines

1.Google

2.Yahoo

3.Encyclopedia

Defining War Problems and Just War Theory:

1. Problems of War

2. Principles of A Just War

3. Just War Theory

Leading Up to Iraq War and Suspected Causes

1. Building the Case

2.War Debate

3.Events Leading to War

4. Chronology of Events Leading to War

* Using search engines you will be able to find many suspected causes of the Iraq war. Remember to look closely at the sources of what you find. Who wrote it? What bias do they maintain, one way or another?

Should U.S. be involved in Iraq

1. Crack in Empire?

2. Just War?

3. Panel Discussing Iraq Just War Theory

4. Site with Many Resources on topic

5. Lust for Power?

6. The Iraq Crisis

Developing Solutions Worksheet

EVALUATION

Guidelines and Rubric:

· Your Power Point should answer all of the questions fully.

· Your policy on the given war should be outlined citing outside sources as support for your policy.

· This is not an emotional response based on your political stance, but rather an educated decision based upon the information that you’ve found.

· Pictures are necessary but shouldn’t take place of the content within your presentation. I am looking for evidence of understanding.

RUBRIC

YOUR SCORE WILL BE THE % OF 16 ACHIEVED

	4	3	2	1
PPA Policy Followed	All questions were answered completely and rationales for the answers were clearly stated.	All questions were answered completely, but rationales for the all the answers were not clearly stated.	Not all questions were answered completely, or greater than 2 rationales for the all answers were not clearly stated.	All questions were not answered completely.	____
Power Point Presentation	- Clear and full presentation of material (10 slides) - Shows sophisticated control of elements of power point program - Demonstrates full control of language conventions	- Clear presentation of material (10 slides) - Shows control of elements of power point program - Demonstrates control of language conventions with very few mistakes	- Basic presentation of material (less than 4,5 slides) - Basic control of elements of power point program - Some errors in language conventions get in way of presentation	- Insufficient and/or unclear presentation of material - Little control of power point program - Significant errors in language conventions which get in way of presentation	____
Process: Teamwork	It is evident that a mutual effort and cohesive unit created the final product.	The team worked well together, but could have utilized each other's skills to a better degree.	The team had problems working together. Little collaboration occurred.	The final product is not the result of a collaborative effort. The group showed no evidence of collaboration.	____
Process: Originality	The ideas expressed by the body of work demonstrate a high degree of originality.	The ideas expressed by the body of work are mostly original.	The ideas expressed by the body of work demonstrate lack of originality.	There were no original ideas expressed in this project.

As Tim O’Brien suggests in “The Things They Carried,” war is often filled with controversy and political turmoil. The images and stories exposed in his story offer a unique perspective on the Vietnam experience. Nevertheless, in this Webquest you have evaluated our countries decision to engage in war in both the Vietnam and Iraq. You have reflected on the issues involved within a war, determining the causes, and eventual outcomes. Acknowledging the mass physical and emotional destruction we can only ask if war comes natural within the evolution of humanity or, rather, if war is a necessary evil facilitating the advancement of society? On the other hand, our recent wars could be viewed as an imperial power strong handing the world. Your evaluation of the given wars helps to sort through such questions, and reflect on future ones.

Standards Attained in this Webquest

English Language Art Standards

E1c Reads and comprehends information materials.

E2a Produce a report of information.

E3b Participate in group meetings.

E6a Critique public documents with an eye to strategies common in public discourse.

E6b Produce public documents.

E7a Critique functional documents with an eye to strategies common to effective functional documents.

E7b Produce functional documents appropriate to audience and purpose.

Problem Solving

a

Design a Product, Service, or System: Identify needs that could be met by new products, services, or systems and create solutions for meeting them.

b

Improve a System: Develop an understanding of the way systems of people, machines, and processes work;
troubleshoot problems in their operation and devise strategies for improving their effectiveness.

Communication Tools and Techniques

a	Make an oral presentation of project plans or findings to an audience with expertise in the relevant subject matter.
b	Prepare a formal written proposal or report to an organization beyond the school.
c	Develop a multi-media presentation.

Information Tools and Techniques

a	Gather information to assist in completing project work.
b	Use on-line sources to exchange information for specific purposes.
c	Use word-processing software to produce a multi-page document.